2008 Stony Hill Chardonnay - USA, California, Napa Valley (7/2/2018)It had been years since my last bottle of Stony Hill anything, and this was a lovely reintroduction. I never had this vintage in its youth, so can't speak to its overall evolution, but there's no risk of downside from what I can tell. Stone fruit, as well as a pineapple essence combine with saline and light honeysuckle notes on the nose, and the fruit directly translates to the palate. There is still very fresh acidity, and only a hint of maturity on the palate.

Only a free and unrestrained press can effectively expose deception in government.- Justice Hugo Black

I had, past tense, three bottles of this that I held onto until the last two years. One, the middle one, was a dud (no obvious taint but nowhere near the quality of the other two, as if someone had emptied the real wine and replaced it with some cheap jug wine), but luckily the final bottle more than made up for it. A really special chardonnay and I enjoyed reliving it thru your note.

My wine shopping and I have never had a problem. Just a perpetual race between the bankruptcy court and Hell.--Rogov

Can't go wrong w/ StonyHill, David. They're not particularly flashy in their youth, but they are legendaryfor their ability to age. StonyHill makes world-class Chard.Chard: a variety they should be planting all up&down the coast of Calif!! Tom